Honestly that about sums up what you come up against when you point out these issues..

I know of a few fairly obvious and straight forward issues that have been pointed out to Essex with previous issues and nothing was done.

I have been using the section from Robin Hood-Towards Woodford recently and I have seen riders are now riding in the main carriageway where car and lorry tyres have smoothed the surface some what towards the nearside. For me this was the issues that I would of expected to have been sorted with this current resurface in making the cycle lane safe and efficient.

The time before last they had left a ridge within the cycle lane right where you needed to place yourself to give a safe distance from the curb, this in turn pushed riders into the main carriageway which caused conflict with other road users.

Currently we have the same issue again with a sub standard surface.

I would love to hear why they could not use Tarmac as they have with Avey lane (Hang man hill road), esp as they have resurfaced the same stretch a number of times within a few years.

It has to be one of the busiest roads for cyclist in the area as most will use it to and from the lanes that run out to the sticks. I just hope that someone does not get hurt riding along there esp Woodford end where the surface is already broken up and stones are being flung up. This is not a slow road either..

Indeed I was planning to climb then come down to a far lower altitude. This is a bit of shake down test TBH, I have plans for a far bigger trip and thankfully having checked the weather it seems to be bright sunshine 20 degrees for 7 days so hopefully I can iron out a few setup options.

Google maps seems to be pants for this region, I am currently looking at Strava heat maps and then plotting route onto RWGPS..

Since I had such a great response regarding migraine busting energy gels I thought I would put out the question here..

Rather than heading to Majorca or south of Spain for my normal cheeky winter get away I have decided to head to Cyprus and to be honest there is some information about the Island but not a massive amount.

I am flying out in the next few days and have a solid week free for cycling, I am taking a slightly more fluid approach to my winter trip than years previous where it would be planned out day by day. I am taking a sleeping bag and my large Ortlieb tail pack complete with Bivy etc.

I have taken an absurdly good deal on a apartment in Paphos and will most likely aim for 3 days as a mini tour then back to apartment for a rest day then 3 more days either taking in the climbs or I may just head out on another 3 day expedition.

When I say I know sweet f,all about Cyprus that is a understatement, so for anyone that has been what is the food options like as you head away from the main cities, I am thinking heading into the Troodos range, I hear it can be very cold at altitude this time of year so any advice?.

I have a MSR Pocketrocket that will need the regular fit Coleman/Camping Gaz canisters, can these be sourced in Paphos?, I see there are a few hunting shops but sadly my emails have gone unanswered. I do have a MSR whisperlite but that needs a bottle and can be used with almost any fuel such as Unleaded etc but flying with this stove and needing a brand new bottle just for the trip can be troublesome.

Maple syrup seems to be the way forward, think I will get one of those pouches that Adam Hansen uses and go from there.

Regarding the actual ingredient that triggers it I would have to say, no I have not been able to fine tune it down that much.

I can drink orange juice without issue, and citrus does not seem to be a factor for me.

I have spoken to a number of companies ref ingredient change and Clif was by far the best help I could have asked for, certainly they went well above and beyond what I could ever imagine and as such I can eat certain bars from them without issue, Peanut Butter for example is my go to..

@PhilDAS, seems we share the same symptoms, 2-3 days I am man down, certainly they can come and go with mild discomfort but when the big one's hit they are absurdly terrible. luckily I have had so many that I do not panic with them like a lot of people. I know that certain cheese would trigger mine off hence I now avoid all dairy products, at the very least my heart will thank me long term.

Any recipes for Maple syrup that people have used that works?, quantities of ingredients etc?..

I suffer with spectral migraines (temp blindness caused by strobe like lights that go across one's field of view for 45 minutes followed by banging head ache), I had my first one when I was about 12 and over the years I can say that they are 100% related to diet and certain foods, I can go a year with none then have 10 in a matter of weeks if I start eating something different that triggers them.

Obviously in the cycling world we have copious amounts of energy gels and bars and I can be certain that a majority of energy gels will bring on an attack almost timing it to the hour after consumption.

I thought I had this little chestnut in the bag in that the last 3 years I had been using a marketing leading gel in a certain flavour without any migraines, I have tried other flavours from this brand and will get a attack by that evening. Sadly it seems that maybe the composition of this flavour has changed recently and I am now getting migraines with it also. I will make it clear there is zero issues with the product, it is my own sensitivity that is causing it, even certain bars will start a episode as will certain tablets and so on...

What I am looking for is a company large or small that offers a organic energy gel without the chemical elements that maybe causing these attacks. I changed my diet drastically about 5 years ago so I am borderline Vegan and that has improved my situation vastly, not to mention my overall well being and fitness. However with the distances and intensity of my riding and training I really need to have the option of a gel that works for me and sadly I am currently buggered as every one thus far is causing issues.

If anyone knows of a truly organic gel or even a recipe that could be home brewed please let me know. There is fairly limited information regarding spectral migraines and energy products, and it is relatively rare for men to get them (but certainly not unheard of).

I am off bike packing at the end of the month to Cyprus and was expecting to have a ton of gels stashed away for the Troodos range, currently it is looking like I will have to sustain myself on grass and tree bark...